The Perfect Tow Vehicle carries Reggie, Roger, and me across the dam to the RV park on other side.

Here’s “our” campground from a different vantage point (and the blue of the water changes, too!).

One of the first things you may notice about this RV park is the absence of trees.

No shade.

You may think, “Why would anyone want to camp there? They don’t even have shelters or picnic tables. Yuck!”

Yes, it’s not very appealing until you look at the park through the eyes of a fisher-person and then yuck turns into yay.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

You have a boat ramp within walking distance of your door. Every morning and again, later in the day, you set out in your boat to fish. In between you turn on the air conditioner and relax inside or maybe take a drive into town or whatever.

You have all the amenities you need and your front yard can’t be beat!

We toodle down the twisty road to the park.

“Roger, you’re hogging all the photo shots. Give Reggie a turn at the window.”

We stop at the pay station where I fill out an envelope, insert a ten dollar bill, and slide it into the iron ranger.

Ten dollars is the most I’ll pay for dumping (uh-oh, never say never). There are cheaper places, like at the Cenex in Dillon, but I don’t want to drive into town just to dump.

Plus the job needs to be done NOW.

If you know what I mean . . .

Reasonable rates for staying at the RV park:

The camp host says local people pay to park their RV here and then come to the reservoir on weekends.

On our return to our campground, I stop the PTV on the dam.

For about one second because it’s probably a violation to do so. I snap the next photo of Armstead Campground (named for the town inundated by the reservoir).

This is a dispersed camping area, attracting those who prefer to fish a river (the Beaverhead River).

It’s Saturday, so our campground is populated with several weekenders.

Jim has pulled out of his site to go boondocking. In my opinion it’s the best campsite, located higher up than the others, with a grand view of the reservoir and mountains.

Happily I direct the PTV to settle the BLT in that site.

I set up a simple camp and don’t unhitch because we’re leaving tomorrow.

The next photo shows part of the view from our campsite.

Can you blame me for spending so much time pushed back in the lounger?

rvsue

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UGH! As the 4th comes around (again) the bursts of ammo and booming start in and I start to freak. Last year we went to a great camp out but this year we are home… I just hope we can keep sane. I feel HORRIBLE for that dog… Mine are crazy as loons, but gosh it is just not fair to anyone to keep them tied all day! Bet that guy is the first to whine if HIS neighbor had a barker!

I hope you are having a great day and that your holiday is pleasant. People who shoot guns and firecrackers have no idea the effect they have on those coping with brain injury… and how it terrifies some animals. Thanks for the hugs and the wish!

Don’t get me going on people who let their dogs off leash in parks! I have two 6 pounds babies and when a large unleashed dog comes running up it is a literal emergency situation as I rush to pick them up before the potential danger occurs. Most dogs are not aggressive but I am not taking any chances with my little angels. These people will not consider the danger they put both their dog and others in by not being responsible. Now that I have an Anatolian Shepherd (who is not aggressive) the equation is complicated only because if the off-leash dog decides to engage him aggressively the results may be very bad. I will be RVing full time in a few months and this is the one thing I fear most… Very sad.

I understand your concern, Lee Ann. I can say that usually the dogs that are running loose in campgrounds are the big, friendly types (non-aggressive). One thing you can do, and you probably already know this, is to exhibit calm, confident behavior when out walking your crew. That’s very important. If you give off signals of anxiety, the dogs might pick up on that and act accordingly.

It seems that the Bureau of Reclamation is encouraging folks to use that RV park for longer stays, and go to the campground where we camped (or others around the reservoir) for overnights and shorter stays.

I’ve fished the Sheep Creeks and the one thing I remember most are mosquitoes. Even the deet-flavored stuff we used was not working on them. We were working our way back from a nice little alpine lake on the continental divide called Morrison Lake. Very out of the way. Road was a bit rough if I remember right. Clark Canyon carries a variety of fish called ling cod that are hard to find inland. That’s what most people fish the Clark for. Have fun on your next location!

No one is giving this one a guess?
The best that I can come up with based on what little I can see of the plant leaf is that it is an Anemone. A goblet-shaped flower that lacks petals but has 5-20 petal-like sepals. Color is usually white with the ‘fruits’ growing together from the middle of the flower, forming a round or elongated head. There are 20 North American Anemone species.

It’s probably Black Henbane, at least I believe it is. You may want do a web search for Black Henbane flower photos, compare other photos to yours, and see what you think. I did that after I found it shown on a Montana plants site,where they listed it among poisonous plants.

I might be shooting some folks in the foot, but I had to share…my son and his family just spent five days at Eagle Ridge Park, a county park, on Klamath Lake on what east side….near Klamath Falls, Oregon…and the rate…free!
I looked it up and it says there are six tent sites but they are actually suitable for trailers. My son said they had a fire ring only, no hook ups. They were by a boat ramp with a wooden dock….and only saw one other person and they just put a boat into the water and parked for the day while they were on the water.
I wish I could share the photos, just beautiful. He watched a mama eagle catch fish and take to her eaglets in the nest…watched birds including pelicans that swam by, squirrels, water snakes…they swam, hiked, and generally lay around…
He said they are planning more visits this summer….I will join them probably in august…so if you want a free on the water camp..here ya go!

I wish I had looked carefully at the hook-up situation. I can’t answer your question about sewer, but I do remember a sign at the dump station. It said that the water at the dump station was not for drinking, so get potable water use a spigot at an empty campsite.

Thank you Sue! Perhaps I can find out by searching. You may remember me as “Elaine In Colorado”. I’m no longer in Colorado as I purchased my travel trailer (aka “condo on wheels”) on March 28, 2017 and my truck on 2/16/17. I have traveled through Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, North & South Carolina, Georgia and am currently in Florida near friends of mine.

A week ago Thursday, I rescued my furbaby from the euthanasia list. Her name is Miss Lovey. She is an Australian Cattle Dog mixed with Lab Retreiver. 5 years old. Her name suits her! So now I become Elaine & Miss Lovey!

Started a travel blog but haven’t updated it in a while. I will do that and post my link in the website line.

My “condo on wheels” is a 2012 Heartland North Trail and truck is a 2007 Dodge Ram 1500 with a 5.7 Hemi Engine.

Thank you for the well wishes! Miss Lovey and I are really enjoying our new lives! It’s been an exciting time so far. Met many helpful and interesting people. Nothing phases Miss Lovey. This includes trains, thunderstorms, lightning and fireworks. She’s the best companion! I love her!

Most boat owners I know that love to fish wouldn’t care what the treeless campground looked like, either. They’ve already invested a lot for their boat, gear, RV, etc., so $30 a day to be out there pursuing their passion is worth it. Jim’s preferences remind me of simpler times and more down to earth folks .

What a gorgeous view from your last site there! I’m skipping the whole topic of a dog with a chewed rope on his neck…it’s about bedtime for me and I don’t want to get all riled up and sad. So I’ll take another look at the picture of Reggie and Roger, ah-h, that’s better 🙂 . I hope conditions at your current camp will allow you three to enjoy this long holiday weekend.

I don’t blame you for moving away from the topic of the Husky tied up. I made it clear to the daughter and son-in-law that leaving a dog tied outside is irresponsible behavior. They agreed and blamed the father. I came back with… The dog is a member of your family. If your father doesn’t care for it properly, it’s up to you to step in and make sure the dog isn’t tied up, is fed well, and kept comfortable. Take responsibility, people!

Thank you for the wish for our present camp. We are in the perfect place for the holiday weekend. I am very glad we came here and I’m looking forward to showing you! 🙂

I’m typing replies while sitting in the PTV with the engine on. It’s hard for me to stay in the background.

Good for you!-telling the young couple that they share the blame hopefully will result in some improved behaviors in that family.

The people that had my first Siberian Huskies had kept them chained outside day and night. That’s why they were so freaked out by lightening and thunder storms, they’d been left to deal with them, without being able to find a dry safe shelter to be in. So soon thereafter, when the younger one gave birth to my last dog ,her fear showed, so the puppy learned to be afraid, too.

In a reply below I saw that Reggie had initially been upset last night, yet found comfort and safety…how wonderful that is! God bless you, Sue, and all those that rescue creatures that so need to be.

I don’t blame the dog I’d chew loose too if I had the chance. Lol that brings a new set of problems then. We took our dog on the boat when we fished. I empathize with Jim I like creek fishing too. Spent last month in Montana and it was my third trip. Love Montana but it was really cold there and in SD too. Spent one night early in month at badlands in rain and utterly miserable My late husband would have loved being able to leave the camper and come back later. Here you have to occupy or they tow. In the conservation area next to the park they don’t police it so that happens during hunting season in the boondocks but you have to be local to know that but you couldn’t get away with it the campgrounds as they are checked daily. The second day without occupying and you would have a note on your door and the third you would be towed even if you had paid in advance The campgrounds here are corps or FS. But there are plenty of boondocks where you could get away with it both on state and federal even a few river front ones but those are rare.

You’re welcome, Dawn! It may seem strange, after all these years, but I still get excited when I open up my blog and see comments. Thank you for being a part of that. I hope you have a great holiday weekend.

The reservoir has the prettiest blue water. It may be treeless, but the water and mountains sure make for a pretty view. Roger seems to have taken over the window, poor Reggie.

We have sure has some scary wildlife issues here lately. One of the subdivisions about 3 miles from us is having quite an issue with coyotes. Someones’ dog was taken when they let is out unattended for its evening business. Another lady there saw them feeding on a buck in the daytime, no less. My neighbor, the next street over, photographed a large bobcat in his backyard, sitting at the edge of the wooded area by the lake. That was scary as Angel & I walk there quite often, but not now. YIKES.

On a happier wildlife note, the Herons we see at the lake have a baby. It is so cute. Sure hope one of the predators doesn’t get it. It hangs out on a little island where the snapping turtles also hang out, when they are not in the water.

DH came home the end of May and has had the physical therapist here for the last month on various days, but he now been released. He is getting around really well. The PCP and his cardiologist gave him good accolades.

Hope all of you have a great weekend and holiday. Sue, I hope you and the crew get through the holiday in a quiet place. Looking forward to the next post. Hugs to you all.

Great post and pictures Sue,,, we found a camp 7 miles Sw of Nathrop, Colorado on this afternoon and was lucky to find it on a holiday weekend too and the neighborhood is filling up, we’re past the trailhead and when the woods empty out we’ll get a better spot,,, I tried to send photos of where we wear up near Telluride, but Google wouldn’t mail them and I don’t know why,,,, have a safe and pleasant 4th of July weekend and day,, and hug the Boys for us , okay,,,,, Rusty n Piper 👣🐾

Hope you and Lady Piper are doing well! Is she afraid of gunshots or fireworks?Gracie pup gets frantic when the folks several streets over set off firworks. Maybe this year they will wait until later to start their display, and she may be tucked in, snoozing away, missing all of the noise. I hope you are in a quiet spot. Take good care of yourselves! **hugs**

Well,, anything that goes Bang she scratches the back door to come in or she’ll hide under the rear of the truck and if it gets lowder ,well let me in dad., my neabours across the road must be new to the woods, 1st they were out shooting a slingshot and just a bit ago built a super large camp fire, I hope that they know the woods are super dri and there is wind blowing,, all the other campers near us have no fires going,,, sorry at my age I worry bout newbies and fire,, we are camped on 272 in the san Isabella national forest south of Beuna Vista and there is a forest fire just west of Durango, seems and smells like the western part of the states are on fire, cause I been breathing smoke for 4 weeks now,,,,,, Rusty n Piper

Good to hear from you, Rusty. I was thinking about you, figured you didn’t have internet signal.

Oh yeah, the people who make those bonfires in the dry forest are a danger for all of us. I’ve seen it done in a dry campground! I know you’ll keep an eye (and a nose) on the fire and smoke situation to keep you and Piper safe.

Soon the holiday will be over and our pups will relax again. I hope you are enjoying Colorado. I’m going to try to find your boondock on my CO map. 🙂

Thanks Sue,, we moved a little bit closer to the Brown’s Creek Trailhead on 272 and we are on 272A, the first of the loop, we were on the second part of the loop and now can hardly see the neabours to the east of us ,,, ya I like Colorado, but the people act like they’re higher than a kite, except the law enforcement and the Forest Service, Last month we camped at a Walmart to get going early and the parking lot was one big pot party and I thought the store at the back of the lot on 160 was a Health Food Store, LivWell, no it aint, it’s a pot selling store, I moved to the other side of the lot so I could breath without getting a buzz

And I’m having breathing problems, been inhaling the Boost Oxygen and I need to get another can,, it’s hard to go for long walks without the can, must be getting old or I’m higher than a kite to, but no hallucinations,,, just tired, sleep early, get up early and I sleep through the night,,,, did you have that when you were hear, Sue?,,,

Rusty… Yes, I had the same experience. It’s the altitude (NOT old age and not the pot). I slept a lot and there were times, when walking, that I’d become short of breath! Don’t worry, just sleep as much as you need to. You’ll get your energy back after a while.

Rusty, if you have been smelling smoke from wildfires for 4 weeks, this could be causing a lot of your breathing problems! Maybe wearing a damp bandana over your mouth area ( like the movie bsnditos!) will filter out the smoke and allow easier breathing.
I wish you a happy 4th of July and want to thank you Rusty for your service to America! I am sure we all appreciate you! 💙 Please give Lady Piper a hug from Chuck and Geri!

Sorry that you are having to wrangle with the charging issue…what a pain! I was thinking, wouldn’t it be nice if some of those fisher folks had some extra freshly caught, cleaned and fileted fish, and offered to share? Thoughts of a simply prepared fish dinner has my mouth watering! Hmmm….maybe some boiled potatoes and steamed green beans or carrots as sides. I had a handful of Triscuit crackers with some pimento cheese for dinner – I think I need to steam a bag of frozen veggies, as now I am hungry!

I hope you all are in a quiet spot during the 4th of July festivities. If not, it will be interesting to see if Roger is fearful. I hope that Gracie pup is asleep (sleeping beauty!) by the time the guy in the neighborhood behind me starts setting off his fireworks. Come to think of it, it has been a quiet weekend so far…maybe that person is out of town, or even better…moved!

Reggie and Roger: you boys did a good job protecting your Mom from that big Husky. Extra kisses on the head for both of you! Have a good evening, Sue! Thank you for letting us tag along on your great adventure! Sending you and the Crew love and hugs from me and Gracie pup! 🙂

Actually Jim did offer to cook me some fresh trout but I declined. As for fireworks, we heard a few last night. Reggie immediately jumped out of his bed to crawl under the covers. Roger slept through it or, if he was awake, didn’t stir.

Ha! I am not so good! There was no junk in the house…nothing to tempt me! Today is a different story! Thank goodness some of the grocery stores sell a single piece of cake, or even half a cake. If it is there, I will enjoy it… Gracie pup says thank you for the kiss on the head! 🙂

Hi Sue and crew. Catching up after a busy week. So glad Roger’s surgery went well and that you can put that behind you.

Montana sure looks beautiful. Can’t wait to get there someday. For now we’re enjoying the long weekend in the Adirondacks. So beautiful this morning. Bright blue skies and birds singing. It’s been raining like crazy, though, so our hiking will be limited until things dry out a bit. Perhaps we’ll grab the canoe and do a little paddling and floating.

84th??? Hahaha! Late to read post but I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it! Always a fun read Sue, along with great photos and the antics of the
Double R’s!
Our little piece of Paradise is packed with folks from all over visiting our beautiful beaches on St. George Island and the fantastic fishing here! A 45 minute wait to get into a good seafood restaurant! YIKES! I hope it is quieter where you are camped than here where we live! Beautiful beach weather though, so I can’t blame them! Y’all take care and know you are loved!